Reading · London and the South East
Caversham Heights Flat Roof Survey
Not sure what state the flat roof is in? We carry out flat roof surveys in Caversham Heights and across Reading, with plain-English findings.
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
- Outlets that hold water back
Should I look at the roof myself first?
It helps to keep a record: dates of leaks, photos from ground level and any work done on the roof. Send it with your enquiry and it will help the survey.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it, as it helps a surveyor trace the cause.
Flat roof surveys for homes and businesses in Caversham Heights
Standing water is one of the first things we look for on a flat roof. It can mean the falls were never right, an outlet is blocked or the deck has started to sag. The survey notes any ponding, the state of each outlet and any dips that hint at a sagging deck. Where the deck may be a structural issue, our report says a structural engineer should look at it. We survey upstands and outlets, mastic asphalt and GRP fibreglass, and the problems we are asked to look at most are ponding water that doesn’t drain away and splits, cracks and crazing.
Around Caversham Heights, many homes have a garden room, garage or outbuilding with a flat roof. They’re easy to forget, but water through a garage roof can spoil whatever is stored inside. It is worth mentioning them as you book, so the visit can include them. Felt, rubber and GRP coverings on garages and outbuildings age in just the same way as the main roof’s.
We keep jargon out of it: where something needs attention, it says so plainly, along with how urgent it is.
- Where
- Caversham Heights (RG4)
- Wider area
- Reading
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
When you need someone else
Some things cannot be seen without opening up the roof, and that sets some limits:
- A structural engineer’s assessment of the deck
- Asbestos testing, which needs a specialist asbestos surveyor
- What’s under the membrane without opening it up
If you’re not sure which survey you need, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we will give you a straight answer before you book. What a survey covers and doesn’t.
Roof types and parts we check
- Mastic asphalt
- Felt flat roofs
- EPDM rubber
- Upstands and outlets
- GRP fibreglass
- Single-ply membranes
Places near Caversham Heights
What else we do in Caversham Heights
What we do, step by step
We will ask a few questions first, about the roof’s history, any leaks and past repairs. The inspection then takes an hour or two at a typical home, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Homes around Caversham Heights often have gardens on more than one side, which gives us room to step back and see the roof. Let us know if any side is fenced off or hard to reach. The loft, where there is safe access, completes the picture.
- We agree the roof to be surveyed, its use and any leaks you know about.
- We look at the roof from ground level, windows and the roof where it is safe.
- We check the covering for splits, blisters, ponding and wear.
- Upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- The report, with photographs and recommendations, comes to you by email.
Preparing for the visit
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Leave a clear route to the loft
- Find any records of previous roof work
Arrange a survey
A quick phone call is typically the easiest start: ring 07833 053749 or drop us an email, and we will ask about the building and what you need. You will have a price before anything is arranged.
Read more
How the survey changes by roof type
Rooflights and upstands
Rooflights, lanterns and upstands are where many flat roof leaks begin. We check the seals and the covering around each one.
EPDM rubber
Rubber roofs can shrink back from their edges or lift where the adhesive has failed. We record any we can see, with photographs.
Local flat roofs in Caversham Heights
Slate and clay tile are the usual coverings on older South East houses, with concrete tiles on many later estates, with flat-roofed extensions, dormers and garages common everywhere. Alongside them, flat-roofed extensions, dormers, garages and commercial units are common almost everywhere. Mapledurham House, about 2.1 miles west, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Caversham Heights. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and a listed home or one in a conservation area may need consent for changes of material.
If you look after a building such as Caversham Primary School, a large flat roof with plenty of outlets and rooflights has many places where a membrane can fail. Landlords with a home close to Reading station may find that flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
Caversham Heights is about 1 mile west of Caversham, in Reading. Whether the building in Caversham Heights is a house, a flat or a commercial unit, we can survey the roof. Our area takes in places right across Reading.
All of RG4 is within our area for flat roof surveys, from the main roads to the quietest streets. If you need a flat roof survey at a property on River Road, Chazey Road and Albert Road or anywhere close by, we can survey it. We also cover the places around Caversham Heights: Caversham (1 mile east), Tokers Green (1 mile north), Emmer Green (1 mile north-east), Lower Caversham (1 mile south-east) and Chalkhouse Green (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include Shinfield (5 miles south), Arborfield Garrison (8 miles south-east), Horncastle (3 miles south-west), Whitley Wood (4 miles south), Sonning Common (3 miles north) and Fords Farm (3 miles south-west). Caversham Heights is among the bigger towns we cover in Reading.
Landmarks near Caversham Heights
Typical jobs here are in homes near Hemdean House School, Round Copse and Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre and the streets around them. The closest station to Caversham Heights is Reading station, roughly 1.4 miles south-east. A little further out are Battle Hospital (1.3 miles south) and Royal Berkshire Regiment Museum (1.4 miles south-west). Not far away are Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and Sonning Hill.
Do you need a flat roof survey in Caversham Heights?
A flat roof lies open to sun, rain and frost, and water drains off it slowly. Over the years, coverings harden, crack and start to come away at the edges. People typically call us when a leak appears, before a purchase, or when the roof may be near the end of its life.
Signs worth acting on include:
- Raised blisters across the surface
- Signs of deflection in the roof deck
- Ponding water that doesn’t drain away
- Upstands pulling away from walls
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for instance near Broad Street Mall, a flat roof over a business is out of sight and out of mind until it leaks.
Questions to ask before booking
- What follow-up you get after the report
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Their report turnaround times
- Their track record with similar roofs
Common questions in Caversham Heights
Is Caversham Heights within the area you cover?
Yes. Caversham Heights is within the area we cover, which takes in towns, villages and rural addresses. We survey roofs across London and the South East. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there when you book.
Do you cover Caversham Heights?
We do. Every survey there gets the same written report with photos, and visits run on weekdays and weekends.
Which flat roof coverings do you cover?
We cover the main flat roof coverings: felt, asphalt, EPDM, GRP and single-ply. The report names the covering and explains its condition.
Can you tell me how long my flat roof will last?
A precise figure isn’t something we give, because so much depends on upkeep, exposure and workmanship. We describe the condition and say which work is urgent and which can wait.
Can you test old roof sheets for asbestos?
We do not test for asbestos. Where a roof has materials that might contain asbestos, like old cement sheeting, the report flags them and recommend a specialist asbestos surveyor.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain is normally fine; heavy rain and wind are different. In high wind or heavy rain, a drone cannot fly and access may not be safe, and we’d agree another day.
Are you insured?
We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance, for every survey we carry out.
Useful tips for Caversham Heights property owners
A survey works best with a little help from you, before and after. Tips:
- File the paperwork for the roof and any repairs
- Check from a window for ponding after heavy rain
- Book a survey every few years
- Treat rooflights and old sheeting as fragile
Questions about the findings are always welcome. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation, giving you a chance to go through what we found.
Book a survey every few years, and again after new fixings, units or rooflights go in. That catches changes early and builds up a record of the roof.